Voges takes fine ton as hosts seal series

Sports writer for The Age

Early pressure ... the Windies celebrate the departure of Phillip Hughes in the final of the five-match ODI series at the MCG on Sunday. Photo: Getty Images

AUSTRALIA's record home-winning streak against a visiting team in one-dayers has extended to a 17th match and 16th year after it claimed a 17-run win - and with it a 5-0 series whitewash - against the West Indies.

While each side boasted a century-maker - Adam Voges 112 not out for Australia, Johnson Charles 100 for the West Indies - the result was destined to be shaped by the enigmatic Kieron Pollard at the end, with the West Indies seeking to overhaul Australia's 5-274 in front of a crowd of 21,962 at the MCG.

The West Indies needed 83 runs from their last 10 overs with five wickets in hand. Run-rate was not a problem until Devon Thomas was run out in the 45th over, a problem exacerbated when Pollard holed out for 45 in the 47th over.

Visiting captain Darren Sammy sought to deliver the 40 runs his team needed from the last three overs but the Australian death bowlers, particularly Mitch Johnson and James Faulkner, showed greater mettle, with the West Indies all out in the last over for 257.

Advertisement

A positive aspect of Australia's innings was that it managed to steadily increase its run-rate throughout, to the extent that just under half its total was compiled in the last 15 overs. The negative aspect of that was that its start was so slow - it didn't reach 100 until the 29th over - that the West Indies were able to play with little risk and still comfortably be ahead on the comparative score.

By the 30-over mark of the visitors' chase they were 3-148, 34 runs and one wicket ahead of where Australia were at the same stage. The incumbent batsmen, plucky opener Charles and Pollard, represented their best opportunity of making its chase successful.

Apart from Johnson, who struck with the new ball to remove Kieran Powell and also claimed Dwayne Bravo, Australia's bowlers struggled for much of the innings to keep the West Indies batsmen scoring at close to a run a ball to keep the required run-rate under control.

Earlier, the West Indies had two: mystery spinner Sunil Narine and seamer Darren Sammy. While Sammy's figures - 0-37 from 10 overs - were tainted by a late flurry from a Brad Haddin, finger-spinner Narine deservedly conceded only 27 runs from his allocation.

Narine failed to take a wicket but nevertheless was arguably the West Indies' most influential bowler. His only rival would have been Tino Best, who removed Shane Watson and Aaron Finch in a fearsome new-ball spell in which his pace hovered about 150km/h.

The dismissals of Phillip Hughes (29) and Shaun Marsh (40) before they were able to accelerate after slow starts put significant pressure on both Voges, who was only a fortnight into his latest international stint, and Haddin. It was during their fourth-wicket partnership of 111 from 104 balls that a 250-plus total became a legitimate possibility for Australia despite its languid start.

Sammy was made to rue sparing Voges in slips when he was on seven. The 33-year-old, whose appointment as interim Western Australia captain three months ago has coincided with a rich vein of form across all formats, paced his innings and also his team's with aplomb. This was reflected in him transforming a strike-rate that was anchored about 50 for most of his first hour at the crease to reaching his maiden century from 97 balls.

When Haddin fell in the 42nd over for 43 it exposed Australia's bowling all-rounders. Only one was needed, however, as Faulkner proved to be good support for Voges in an unbeaten partnership of 81 from 52 balls.

Charles, 24, was the cornerstone of the West Indies innings. He benefited from dropped catches by Aaron Finch on nine and substitute Ryan Carters in the outfield on 77 and was also on the right end of two decision reviews, yet was still deserving of his first international ton.